One of the two explosions that killed three during the Boston Marathon on April, 15 2013. Daily Telegraph Photo

Five years ago a handful of college students at Tufts University predicted the possibility of Monday’s deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Tufts’ “Introduction to Terrorism” course taught by retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Russell Howard required students to break down into small teams and begin to think like terrorists. The students broke into small groups of four to five students and had to plan a terrorism attack that reflected a specific radical ideology, Howard told USNI News. Read More →

A Navy explosive ordnance disposal sailor disables an explosive device during a Nov. 12, 2012 exercise in US Central Command, US Navy Photo

The Navy has sent a three sailor explosive ordnance disposal detachment to Boston to assist with the aftermath following two Monday explosions during the Boston Marathon, a Navy official told USNI News Tuesday. Read More →

US Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous responds to assist the Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 11, 2013. US Coast Guard Photo

Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise ship operator, plans to payback the U.S. government for costs incurred from rescues of two of its ships, company officials told USNI News on Monday. Read More →

The canceled Distinguished Warfare Medal annouced in February at the Pentagon. DoD Photo

The Pentagon is cancelling a controversial medal designed to recognize contributions of unmanned aerial vehicle pilots and cyber troops, according to a Monday memorandum signed by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel obtained by USNI News. Read More →

Rear Adm. Charles M. Gaouette receives honors from side boys during a change of command ceremony for Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 on April 5, 2012. US Navy Photo

Rear Adm. Charles M. Gauoette was relieved of command of Stennis Carrier Strike Group in October, following an incident where Gauoette admonished USS John C. Stennis CO Capt. Ronald Reis for ship handling during a transit through the Strait of Malacca, according to reports from The New York Times and Navy Times. Read More →

Parsing harrowing threat from hot air is an essential task for monitoring the Korean peninsula. North Korean leaders and propaganda outlets unfailingly respond to times of crisis with apocalyptic language.

After the 2010 bombardment of the disputed Yeonpyeong island, for example, North Korea warned of a “merciless shower” and vowed renewed war would turn Seoul into a “sea of fire.”

Kim Jong-un, since succeeding his late father in December 2011, has overseen new missile tests, and in February 2013 declared his country was conducting its third nuclear test. With that latest crisis have come new rounds of grave statements. Read More →

Man Transportable Robot System “Talon” Mark 2 approaches a suspected bomb maker’s building during an exercise. US Navy Photo

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has constructed a neuromorphic device—the functioning structure of a mammalian brain—out of artificial materials. DARPA’s project, SyNAPSE (Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics) signals a new level for biomimicry in engineering. The project team included IBM, HRL, and their subcontracted universities. Read More →

The Defense Intelligence Agency has “moderate confidence,” North Korea has progressed enough to arm a missile with an atomic warhead, according to a passage of the unnamed DIA report read during a Thursday House Armed Services Committee meeting by Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo.

However, according to missile experts from IHS Jane’s and the Department of Defense, the threat from a North Korean nuclear missile is low. Read More →